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A Toronto hockey fan's decision to display a sign reading "Toronto Stronger" at Game 3 of the Bruins-Maple Leafs playoff series led to a hostile reaction across social media Monday night.

The sign, a play on the popular "Boston Strong" theme that emerged after the Boston Marathon bombings in April as the city began the healing process, was held by a fan outside the Air Canada Centre and photos of it zoomed around the net quickly thereafter.

Reaction was just as swift, with comments ranging from calling it classless and insensitive to remarks considerably more vehement and vulgar. The phrase was trending on Twitter in both Toronto and Boston on Monday night. Many Canadians were also quick to rebuke the sign-holder on social media, message boards and other media.